Nowhere Boy

Sam Taylor Wood

Plot Summary

Imagine... John Lennon's childhood. Liverpool, 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen-year-old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John (Aaron Johnson): Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), the buttoned-up aunt who raised him, and Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock 'n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney (Thomas Brodie Sangster). Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice - and an icon explodes into the world.

Actors

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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

TOMATOMETER

79%

Reviews Counted: 136

Fresh: 108

Rotten: 28

Average Rating: 6.9/10

Top Critics' Reviews

Fresh: The reason to see Nowhere Boy is the charismatic Johnson, who effortlessly nails Lennon's strut, anger and sensitivity. Anybody seeing the movie could surely spot a star in the making. – Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine, Oct 14, 2010

Rotten: Taylor-Wood has specialized in video installations and off-kilter portraits, and it was tempting to hope that her take on Lennon would unsettle and provoke. Instead, she stays resolutely on-kilter, as if awed into numbness by her subject. – Anthony Lane, New Yorker, Dec 22, 2010

Fresh: To watch Nowhere Boy is to appreciate anew both the anger that drove Lennon and the strength of character it took for him to overcome it. – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, Oct 14, 2010

Customer Reviews

I love Nowhere Boy.

by
Lauren/Jacqui Jacoby

First of all, I absolutely love the Beatles, as well as John Lennon. Second of all, I absolutely love Aaron Johnson, so, as you can guess, I absolutely love this movie. It really helped me to understand all the hardship that John Lennon endured, as well as his love for music. This movie made me appreciate his music that much more. It inspired me to pick up my guitar and play some Beatles on it. This movie is so touching, and the feeling it gives you inside is indescribable.

Truly inspirational

by
PULL4JR

A must see movie.

Amazing, Wow!

by
Mallory Smith

Being a huge Beatles fan, I couldn't wait to see this. All I really cared about at first was the music, but I was amazed at how good the acting and directing was. Not only that, but I learned so much about John Lennon. He has an amazing life story that translates to the screen flawlessly. This is easily on my favorites list. So, Beatles fan or not, I strongly suggest that you watch this film because you will most likely gain a great respect for Lennon and the rest of the Quarrymen.